Wild Wednesday … Together Again!

Posted on March 14, 2018 by foresterartist

A week after the male osprey arrived the female showed up. They’re together again for another breeding season. While waiting for her to arrive he kept busy doing guy stuff. Click on the galleries to enlarge the pictures.

Osprey, nest, nesting, birding, photography

The male and female osprey are together again.

While she was away he watched whatever he wanted like any guy would.

He ate out all the time

Finally, at the last-minute he decided he’d better clean house.

This could take a while…

Still cleaning.

He’s totally checking her out!

Apparently, an incident was witnessed by several coworkers between an eagle and the osprey. On Monday, one of the eagles showed up and began circling the nest. The male osprey took off and began to circle up to the eagle. When the osprey reached the eagle he began diving on it. After multiple diving runs the eagle began turn belly up to give the osprey its talons. The aerial combat went on until the eagle moved off.

Incidentally, I discovered this on the neighboring property. You have to click on the gallery to see the bald eagle on the nest.

Our eagles have a nest next door. I didn’t see the eagle in the nest until I looked at the picture on the computer.

The nest is in a huge valley oak beside a pond. I think this is where the eagles were going nest all along. The just liked partying at the osprey nest.

Wild Wednesday … Eagles Nest?

Posted on February 21, 2018 by foresterartist

This is week that the osprey customarily return to their nest in the electrical tower at the sawmill. I haven’t seen them yet. Usually the male shows up a week or two before the female. This year they will be in for a bit of a surprise. A little over a month ago a pair of eagles moved in. I’m not sure how this will go, but the eagle are a lot bigger than the osprey. I’d have to put my money on the eagles. Click on the gallery to enlarge to photos and get the dirt.

Nice looking birds.

He seems to have staked a claim here.

I keep waiting for them to gather sticks, but the haven’t. I not convinced their serious about nesting here.

These are all osprey pictures from previous years.

osprey, pen and ink, nature, wildlife, drawing, portrait

The osprey have inspired art from yours truly.

This has been an osprey nest literally for decades.

It’s a prime location for fishing birds with its grand overlook of the Sacramento river.

It hasn’t been without struggle. last season it rained so much the nest grew a garden before the birds arrived. They had to weed it.

When the summer heat get over about 106 the parents shade the chicks.

Osprey, pen and ink, drawing, wildlife, nature, ink

More art.

Two years ago the male osprey was struck be a helicopter blade and died. he was trying to defend the nest from the helicopter that was inspecting the tower.

The osprey have raised many generations.

The osprey probably won’t be too happy with the new residents.

Stay tuned to see how this turns out.

Below are a few of the osprey posts over the years.

https://wordpress.com/post/theforesterartist.com/948

https://wordpress.com/post/theforesterartist.com/1056

https://wordpress.com/post/theforesterartist.com/1090

https://wordpress.com/post/theforesterartist.com/1703

https://wordpress.com/post/theforesterartist.com/2659

https://wordpress.com/post/theforesterartist.com/4017

Wild Wednesday … Waiting For Fish

Posted on January 11, 2017 by foresterartist

Scanning the Sacramento River, this bald eagle is fishing for breakfast.

I saw the eagle perched near the boat ramp scanning the river. I couldn’t get a clear picture that wasn’t full of branches. I slid down the bank next to the water. Slid being the operative word, since I almost took a morning dip. I had a clear view for this shot. The eagle never gave me a look. I wasn’t a fish!

Perched in the tree tops beside the river waiting for a fish.

From Every Mountainside Let Freedom Ring

Posted on July 4, 2013 by foresterartist

Eagle, Bald Eagle, 4th of July, Independence Day, nature, wildlife photography

Bald Eagle resting in a pine tree along the Trinity River.

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”

James Madison

Live, love and guard your freedom. Have a happy independence day.

Eagle Week!

Posted on February 28, 2013 by foresterartist

Bald Eagle

I bet you didn’t know it’s Eagle Week. The fact is that I didn’t either. It just turns out that it was for me anyhow. Here is how it came to be. One morning early in the week, I was driving by the boat ramp along the river when I spotted this huge bird. It was a juvenile bald eagle and it was scanning the river for breakfast. I took some pictures and went on my way.

A juvenile Bald Eagle. It is starting to white up on the face and tail.

The next day, while driving through the foothills West of the valley, I came around the corner and lo and behold another huge bird. This time it was a golden eagle. I don’t see the golden eagles nearly as often. So I stopped and took some pictures.

golden eagle, eagle, photography, nature, wildlife

The Golden Eagle

Advance ahead to yesterday, I was up in far Northeastern California. I was passing through the Ash Creek Wildlife Area when I came upon this beauty, a mature bald eagle. I immediately stopped in the middle of the highway, since there is no place to pull off, to take some pictures. Fortunatly, it is a lonely road and I could see for miles in both directions.